MICRO-MACROMORPHOLOGICAL SURVEY OF SOME LATHYRUS SPECIES IN IRAN

Taxonomy of the genus Lathyrus with 23 species in Iran has been controversial especially at sectional level. Thisstudy is based on the morphological and palynological evidences. 28 morphological and 7 palynological charactersbelonging to 13 Iranian Lathyrus species were examined. Our result s showed that L. sect. Nissolia with simpleleaves is monotypic and includes only L. nissolia . Lathyrus vinealis, L. sphaericus, 1. inconspicuu s were transferredfrom the section Nisso/ia to the section Linearicarpus based on the flower and pollen morphology. Morphologicaland palynological evidences were also used for transferring L. go rgoni and L. rotundifolius from the sectionGorgoni to the section Lathy rus . In addition , based on the stipule , tendril and pollen morphology, L. pratensis wassegregated from 1. aphaca and transferred to L. sect. Pratensis.